Addis Ababa, April 22, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin called for more support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR to host refugees.

While discussing with UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner T. Alexander Aleinikoff here Thursday Seyoum said Ethiopia is doing its level best to receive refugees from neighboring countries even though the country does not have adequate resources .

He said Ethiopia is a second home for thousands of Eritreans, Somalis and Sudanese refugees. Seyoum said many Somalis are currently dislocated and became refugees because of the havoc created by Al shabab.

ENA

Hence, Seyoum noted that the international community should help the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to address the root cause. UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Aleinikoff on his part lauded Ethiopia's open door policy towards massive number of refugees from neighboring countries.

He said he held constructive discussion with the minister on the situation of refugees in the region and as to how strengthen the relations between UNHCR and Ethiopia. It was noted that currently Ethiopia is hosting over 120,000 refugees many of whom are Eritreans and Somalis.

Story from ENA